A young couple died in an apparent murder-suicide at an Alabama hospital just hours after welcoming their first child. Kynath Terry Jr., 19, reportedly shot and killed his 24-year-old wife, Precious Elicia J’anae Johnson, at Brookwood Hospital’s Women’s Medical Center on March 1, 2026. The pair had just become parents, but something apparently snapped inside Terry. The suspect’s family claims they had no idea he could ever do something so horrific. Yet even in the darkest hour, they must focus their energy on a newborn baby whose life has already taken a drastic turn.
The Homewood Police Department noted in a news release that officers responded to the hospital just before 9:30 p.m. following a call about possible shots fired. When they arrived, police found Terry and Johnson both dead from gunshot wounds. Police called the incident “an apparent murder-suicide and it is domestic in nature.” Thankfully, no one harmed the newborn.
Terry’s mother, who chose not to speak on camera, told WVTM her son and daughter-in-law had experienced some marital issues. Johnson allegedly did not want Terry’s family at the hospital when she gave birth. The new grandmother said she had no idea her son could have such a violent streak. He’d recently finished Army National Guard training, married, and seemed excited to start his family.
Danne Howard, president of the Alabama Hospital Association, told WVTM the shooting saddened her. She confirmed that the hospital will conduct an internal investigation that could change hospital protocol.
“The hospitals always do an after-action report and look at what are the lessons learned, what worked well, what might need to be refined,” Howard said. “And in doing that, it’s not uncommon for the hospital association to pull together, all of our hospitals to share information and best practices and what worked and what didn’t work and what might need to be revisited.”
It’s unclear what will happen to the couple’s baby. The only good news in this story is that Terry didn’t hurt the newborn, giving the baby a chance at life. Hopefully, together, the families can raise this child with love and patience. May they never know this kind of horrible pain ever again.
Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can always reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. They are available 24/7 by phone or online chat.
